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North Korea says it will conduct third nuclear test

U.S. envoy to North Korea Glyn Davies speaks after meeting Thursday in Seoul with South Korea nuclear envoy Lim Sung-nam. (Ahn Young-joon, The Associated Press)

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea's top governing body warned Thursday that the regime will conduct its third nuclear test and made clear that its long-range rockets are designed to carry not only satellites but also warheads aimed at striking the U.S.

The National Defense Commission, headed by the country's young leader, Kim Jong Un, denounced Tuesday's U.N. Security Council resolution condemning North Korea's long-range rocket launch in December. The commission reaffirmed in its declaration that the launch was peaceful but also clearly indicated the country's rocket launches have a military purpose: to strike and attack the United States.

White House spokesman Jay Carney called the plans to conduct another nuclear test "needlessly provocative" and said the U.S. would be taking additional steps to tighten sanctions on North Korea.

"We judge North Korea by its actions, and provocations like these are significant violations and we act accordingly," he said.